How Long Should I Stay Off of My Lawn After an Overseeding Service?

For various reasons, your lawn in South Dakota could become thin or patchy over the course of the year. To help fill in those bare or patchy areas, and to increase the overall density of your lawn, you should schedule an overseeding service. Overseeding is the process of spreading grass seeds on your turf, and it will help you achieve a dense, lush lawn. However, it's important that you stay off of your lawn for at least two weeks after an overseeding service to allow the seeds to establish themselves in the soil. Once the seeds have grown into grass blades, and you've been able to mow your lawn 2-3 times without any setbacks, you can start to use your lawn like normal again. If you walk on your lawn too early, you could end up causing damage to it, and you may not get the results you were expecting.

How long should I stay off my lawn after overseeding?

After your lawn has been overseeded, it is recommended that no one walks on the lawn for at least 2 weeks. The seedlings will still be fragile and can be damaged before they take root and grow. The seedlings will be vulnerable to any disturbances. The only treatment your lawn should receive during this time is frequent watering. Waiting 2 weeks is typically enough time for your seedlings to have established their roots in the soil. Once that has happened, they will likely be able to endure the stress from foot traffic.

After you've mowed your overseeded lawn 2-3 times, you can start using it like normal.

Before you mow your lawn for the first time after it's been overseeded, you should wait until the new grass has reached about 3 inches in height. Once it's ready, you can go ahead and mow it, and then keep an eye on how it handles the process. If your grass doesn't seem to be stressed and continues to grow, you can cut it again the next week. After you've mowed your lawn 2-3 times without noticing any issues, it's probably safe for you to start using it like normal again.

Why is it bad to walk on your newly overseeded lawn too early?

Walking on your lawn too soon after it has been overseeded can spell trouble for your grass. That's because you might displace or stress the grass seeds that have not yet taken root or grown strong enough to endure it. Walking on your lawn too early can tear the seeds from the soil or stunt their growth. If this happens, your lawn might be left with the bare patches you started with, and you will have to repeat the overseeding process. So, it's best to make sure you wait long enough before using your lawn like normal to ensure you don't cause any damage to it.

Give us a call today to schedule our overseeding service!

If you're looking to increase the density of your lawn and fill in any bare spots with new grass, we are the team to turn to. At The Yard Barbers, we offer our overseeding service to residential and commercial properties, as well as HOAs, in Sioux Falls, Harrisburg, and Tea, SD, as well as other nearby areas. Our overseeding service is combined with our core aeration service, a process that will encourage seed germination and growth. Overseeding is done in the spring and in the fall, and we recommend overseeding your lawn at least once a year. You can call (605) 370-5084 and schedule your overseeding service to grow your lawn into something lively and lustrous!